MOSCOW () - Following are some of the key quotes from Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual phone-in and press conference. ON HIS 25 YEARS IN POWER Yes, I think that I did more than just safeguard (Russia). I think that we have moved back from the edge of the abyss, because everything that happened to

By Dan Burns and Howard Schneider WASHINGTON () -The world's economic reckoning with the incoming Trump administration kicked off in earnest this week, with the U.S. Federal Reserve flagging fewer rate cuts and other leading central banks signaling caution over future rate decisions. The Fed cut rates as expected on Wednesday amid a busy year-end

By Simon Johnson STOCKHOLM () -Sweden's central bank cut its key interest rate by quarter of a percentage point to 2.50% as expected on Thursday, but said that after easing policy five times this year, it saw reasons to be more cautious as it enters 2025. The Swedish economy has been treading water for the

MOSCOW () - Following are some of the key quotes from Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual phone-in and news conference. ON RUSSIA'S NEW ORESHNIK HYPERSONIC MISSILE There is no chance of shooting down these missiles... Let Western experts propose to us, and let them propose to those in the West and the U.S. who pay

By Liang-sa Loh and Yimou Lee TAIPEI () -Taiwan's central bank on Thursday raised this year's growth forecast for the tech powerhouse island but flagged risks for next year centred on the trade policies of the incoming Trump administration in the United States. Taiwan's economy has benefited from the crucial role homegrown companies like chipmaker

OSLO () - Norway's central bank held its policy interest rate unchanged at a 16-year high of 4.50% on Thursday, as unanimously expected by analysts in a poll, and said it plans to start cutting borrowing costs in March next year. "The committee judges that a restrictive monetary policy is still needed to stabilise inflation

() -The Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged on Thursday but one dissenting board member's proposal to push up borrowing costs showed the central bank remains on track to tighten policy early next year. As widely expected, the nine-member BOJ board voted 8-1 to keep its short-term policy rate unchanged at 0.25% in a

By Rae Wee SINGAPORE () -The dollar flirted with a two-year peak on Thursday after the Federal Reserve signalled a slower pace of rate cuts in 2025, while the yen slid after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) stood pat on rates and offered few clues on its monetary outlook. The BOJ kept interest rates steady

HONG KONG () -The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) on Thursday cut its base interest rate charged via the overnight discount window by 25 basis points to 4.75%, tracking a move by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Major Hong Kong banks followed with reductions, but some at a smaller magnitude. HSBC cut its Hong Kong dollar

HONG KONG () -The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) on Thursday cut its base interest rate charged via the overnight discount window by 25 basis points to 4.75%, tracking a move by the U.S. Federal Reserve. "The pace of (U.S.) interest rate cuts remains uncertain as it is dependent on U.S. inflation and labour market